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(No Model.)

C. A. SORENSEN. WASHING MACHINE.

No. 417,289. Patented Deo. 1'7, 1889.

`INVENTQR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

CHRISTN A. SORENSEN, OF NEv YORK, N. Y.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,289, dated December 17, 1889..

Application iilcd July 16, 1889. Serial No. 317,675. (No model-l i machine for washing fabrics that shall unite simplicity and durability of construction with efficiency in operation.

, It pertains to the class of machines known as reciprocating rubloersg7 and it consists in certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective, partly in section, of the upper part of the machine, showing an'adjustable bearing. Fig. 3 is a section on line ce 4r of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section online y -y of Fig. 1, parts above and below being broken away.

The main receptacle 1 of the machine is madesemi-cylindrical, and preferably of wood. The upper ends of the inclined legs are made to bear against vertical posts 2 2, and both are firmly secured to the end walls of the receptacle. The posts 2 are separated by a small space, and their adjacent inner edges are provided with angle-plates 3, which serve as a part of the bearing for the journal of a reciprocating rubber 5. These plates are made in one piece,as indicated in Fig. 3, being connected at their rear lower part by the crossplate S.

At 6 is shown a curved seat or bottom bearing, which is provided with a downwardlyextended bar 7, adapted to slide in the space between posts 2 This device is T-shaped, its head G extending up said space and iilling 'it horizontally. The wall oi' the vessel is vertically slotted adjacent to the space between the posts 2, to permit the `journals of the rubber to be raised and lowered therein.

8 is a handle by which the bearing 6 can be raised.

9 is a set-screw having a screw-thread connection with the plate 10, which latter connects with or joins angle-plates 5. Its inner point bears against thewall of the tub or vessel, and its use is to hold the parts in any desired relation to each other.

l1 is a jamb-nut, made large to be easily operated by hand.

The ends of the vessel or receptacle are similar to each other. The rubber, to be hereinafter described, is inserted or removed from the tub" by passing its journals into or out from the spaces between the bars 2 2. In use they rest upon the bearings G, and these bearings can be adjusted and fastened in the manner above specified.

The rubber 5 corresponds in form to the wash-tub in which it is to be used. It is braced interiorly by braces 13, bearing against a post 14, all secured to the ends 15 of the rubber. Exterior to the post and the braces 13, and adjacent to their junction, is a piece 20, rounded on its exterior and overlapping the joints of the braces and the post, and serving both to strengthen these joints and as a fender between the rubber and the wall of the tub. These ends are connected by bars or ribs 16, rigidly secured thereto. These are partly round and partly angular incross-section, as represented, and are notched so that the angular portion abuts against the ends of the rubber, and the rounded portion, or the larger part of it, is outside the periphery of the ends. The angular abutting portion furnishes sufficient bearing against the ends, without unduly cutting or notching the rounded part, and thereby locating too much of the ribs within the peripheries of the ends l5. On the interior of the vessel other ribs 17, of a somewhat similar form, are secured at intervals, as indicated. Of this angular part one side rests on the interiorof the Wall of the tub, and the other, formed as represented, terminates in a shoulder 19, which forms a seat in which fastening nails or screws may be inserted. It also iills the space under the rib, on the upper side thereof, that might other wise be difficult to cleanse from impurities settling therein. The two posts let-one at each end of the rubber-are connected by a handle 1S, preferably iliade of brass tubing. All metallic parts are made of such metal or alloys as are comparatively free from liability to rust or corrode.

The rubber having been removed b y lifting it out of the vessel by passing its journals up and out of the space between the posts-2, the articles to be Washed are introduced, with water and other detergents, and the rubber then returned to its place. If the article or articles to be cleansed are bulky, it will be found desirable to raise the rubber and adjust its relative height by the setscrews, so that the rubber will work freely upon and over their surface when it is rocked or oscillated in its bearings by means of the handle 18. If the materials afterward become more evenly distributed or leveled down, the rubber can readily be readjusted to produce the proper degree of friction and pressure thereon. The movement of the ribs 16 above ribs 17 rubs and cleanses the wet fabrics, alternately pressing` or rubbing each part of the material in a manner which will be readily understood. Then it is desired to remove the material washed, or to obtain access to it for any purpose, the rubber can be raised and its journalbearings also, which latter will then sustain it sufficiently far above the contents of the vessel to permit them to be manipulated or removed.

Soiled garments and other fabrics can be very speedily cleansed by this machine without injury to the goods and without detaching` or breaking` buttons or other fastening or ornamental devices, and either large or small quantities can be treated, and the rubber can be easily ad justcd and supported or removed.

Having,1 thus described myinvention, whatI desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a washing-machine, the means of Vertically adj usting,1 and supporting the rubber,

which consists in the T-shaped device having a vertical part provided with a handle, and a head concave on its upper surface to receive the journals of the rubber, in combination with the angle-iron plate, set-screw, and the posts, substantially as described.

2. The washing-machine consisting of the tub, with ribs 17 secured to its bottom, and the rubber provided with ribs 16, secured thereto, said rubber having` journals, and the tub havin the vertically-adj ustable T-shaped iron, concave on its upper surface, and the angle-iron platevsetscrew, and vertical posts, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CIIRISTEN A. SORENSEN. XVitxiesses:

JoHN QUERN, JOHN ULRic KUEBLER. 

